Dalian Wanda in talks to buy World Triathlon for $850m

Chinese property and investment firm Dalian Wanda Group is in exclusive talks to acquire World Triathlon Corp, the United States-based owner of the popular Ironman Triathlon franchise, for more than $850 million, according to a person familiar with the matter.

据知情人士透露，致力于地产和投资项目的大连万达集团正在进行独家谈判，拟以逾8.50亿美元收购美国World Triathlon Corp(WTC)。后者是深受欢迎的铁人三项比赛赛事的拥有者。

The potential deal underscores China’s increasing appetite for US media assets. Live events and sports brands are some of the most attractive and fast-growing areas of the media industry.

本项潜在交易凸显出中国对美国媒体资产兴趣日增，而实况转播活动以及运动品牌是媒体业最诱人的快速成长领域。

Dalian Wanda outbid other potential buyers for Ironman and is now in negotiation to finalize a deal with its owner, private equity firm Providence Equity Partners LLC, the person said.

消息人士表示，大连万达集团出价高过其他竞购铁人系列的潜在买家，现正和铁人的拥有者私募股权公司Providence Equity Partners LLC协商最终的协议。

There is no certainty that Dalian Wanda will manage to finalize a deal, however.

然而，大连万达能否敲定协议存在着不确定性。

The source asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. A spokesman for Providence declined to comment, while representatives for Dalian Wanda and Ironman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

由于谈判不公开，消息人士不愿透名。Providence发言人拒绝置评，大连万达集团以及铁人三项的代表都尚未立即回复置评请求。

Ironman is a long-distance triathlon featuring a 3.86-km kilometer swim, a 180-km bike ride and a 42.2-km run, all of which has to be completed in under 17 hours. Ironman hosts 180 events in more than 20 countries, including shorter races.

铁人三项运动由3.86千米的游泳、180千米的自行车骑行和42.2千米的短程马拉松组成。运动员需要一鼓作气，在17个小时内完成全程。铁人系列集团已在20多个国家举办赛事，包括较短的比赛。

The first Ironman race was held in Hawaii in 1978 with 15 entrants. The idea for the race came from naval officer John Collins and his wife, Judy, who issued a challenge to see whether swimmers, bikers or runners were the toughest competitors.

1978年，拥有15个参赛者的夏威夷铁人三项赛是第一次正式比赛。为了探究游泳，自行车和跑步是否为最富有挑战性的体育运动项目，美国海军准将约翰?科林斯和他的妻子朱迪提出举办铁人三项赛的想法。

The World Championship, where 2,000 athletes compete, is still held in Hawaii and is televised on the NBC Sports Network.

拥有2000运动员参赛的世界锦标赛也是在夏威夷举办的，该比赛同时在NBC体育网进行了实况转播。

John Gills, a physician and Ironman participant, bought the rights to Ironman in 1989 and sold World Triathlon Corp to Providence in 2008 for an undisclosed.

一名叫约翰.盖尔的医生作为铁人三项的参与者，在1989年为WTC公司购置了铁人三项的所有权。在2008年，他将WTC出售给Providence。

The company generates revenue from selling licensing for merchandise and is also paid through entry fees, sponsorships and global TV rights.

该公司的收入来源于销售产品许可、收取入场费和赞助商的支持。此外，电视的全球转播也会给其一定的费用。

World Triathlon Corp has annual earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of more than $50 million, sources previously told Reuters.

消息人士曾告诉路透社，扣除了利息、税、折旧及摊销，WTC公司每年的利润逾5000万美元。

Dalian Wanda, known for its real estate holdings, has been expanding its media investments outside China in recent years.

主要致力于房地产开发的大连万达公司，近年来一直在国外拓展投资市场。

It bought sports marketing firm Infront Sports & Media, Media AG, which is based in Switzerland, for 1.05 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in February.

今年二月份，大连万达集团以10.5亿欧元（11.4亿美元）的价格收购了总部在瑞士的上市公司Infront Sports & Media, Media AG。

Dalian Wanda’s last major US media investment was its $2.6 billion takeover of AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc movie theaters in 2012.

2012年，大连万达集团以26亿美元的价格并购AMC娱乐影院是近来一项对美国投资的重大举措。

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来源:华尔街日报中文网爱语吧作者:Gina